Range



July 13, 1965 E. J. BARNETT 3,

RANGE Filed Feb. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r27 LEFT REAR r28 RIGHT REAR ,29 LEFT FROgT R|HT FRONT WITNESSES NVENTOR J 4 5g; 6 Eugene J. Barnett BYFTRK ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6.

RANGE E. J. BARNETT Fig.5.

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July 13, 1965 Filed Feb. 21, 1963 Fig}. IO.

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2s 21 f 9f Fig. 9.

United States Patent 3,194,945 RANGE Eugene J. Barnett, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric (Iorporation, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,117 19 Claims. (61. 219-446).

This invention relates to range platforms and more particularly to range platforms adapted for installation in a counter top.

The increase in popularity of the counter top range has been due, in part, to the saving in kitchen space achieved by these units. To better utilize the available space, the platform is generally mounted adjacent a wall, such as an oven wall, leaving the remaining counter top available as a work area.

Mounting these units. adjacent a wall has provided a problem to manufacturers. To minimize the depth of the unit, from front to back of the counter, some manufatcurers have located the controls in the platform, at the side of the burner units. In mounting these units adjacent a wall, it is desirable to keep the hot surface units spaced away from the wall, and therefore, to locate the control'switches at the wall side of the platform.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to provide a righthand and a left-hand counter top unit to meet the requirement of providing a platform adaptable for mounting adjacent a right-hand wall or left-hand Wall.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a range platform which may be mounted having the surface unit controls adjacent a wall, but which is adaptable to be turned 180 and mounted with the controls against an opposite facing wall without need for a new indicia plate or other substitute parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a range platform unit having a plurality of cooking elements and a group of controls therefor located adjacent one side of the unit, which unit can occupy either of two positions, in one of which it is rotated 180 from its other position.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a range platform having a row of control elements located at the side, and a removable row of indicia disposed adjacent the control elements. Each of the indicia, in this first position, references an adjacent control element to the specific location of its controlled surface unit on the platform, and is easily readable by the user.

When it becomes desirable to have the controls located at the opposite side of the platform, the row of indicia is removed, the platform, with its controls, is rotated 180, and the row of indicia is reassembled adjacent the controls without being rotated so that it remains in a position readable to the user. By connecting the surface units to the control elements in the manner of the invention, each of the indicia is still effective to reference an adjacent control element to the specific location of its controlled surface unit on the platform.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a range platform unit incorporating the invention, with the controls located adjacent a right-facing wall;

FIG. 2 is a similar view to that of FIG. 1, but showing the range platform unit rotated through 180 with its controls located adjacent a left-facing wall;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

Patented July 13, 1955 FIGS, 5 and 6 are top plan views of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are top plan views of a third embodiment of the invention; and, I

FIGS. 9 and 10 are top plan views of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to range platforms utilizing any source of heating energy, the invention has been herein illustrated as employed in an electrically powered range and will be so described.

Referring to the drawings, especially FIG. 1, there is shown a counter top 11, bounded by a left side wall 12 and rear wall 13. Mounted in the counter top 11 is a range platform 14 having a group of surface type heating units 16, 17, 18 and 19 disposed in a double row thereon. The control switches 21, 22, 23 and 24 are arranged in a row on a side of the platform 14, for controlling the surface units 16, 17, 18 and 19, respectively. Both the surface units 16, 17, 18 and 19, and the control switches 2.1, 22, 23 and 24 may be of any type known in the art and are therefore not shown in detail, as such details form no part of the present invention.

Adjacent the row of control switches 21, 22, 23 and 2.4 there is a removable member 26 having a rear indicium a rear intermediate indicium 28, a front intermediate indicium 29 and a front indicium 31 disposed thereon. Each of the indicia 2'7, 28, 29 and 31 is lo cated adjacent a control switch and is so lettered as to be effective to identify the respective surface, unit 16, 17, 18 or 1? controlled thereby. The removable member 26 is attached to the platform 14 by any suitable fastening means which permits the member to be easily removed and replaced at the opposite side of the platform when the latter is repositioned by being turned it will be noted that in FIG. 1 the platform 14 is located in a preferred manner, with the control switches 21, 22, 23 and 24 adjacent the side wall 12 and the surfaclei units 1'7, 18 and 1? a maximum distance from the wa Referring now to FIG. 2, there isshown a counter top 32 having a rear wall 33 and a right side wall 34. Here, it is also desirable to mount the platform 14 so that the surface units 16, 1'7, 18 and 19 are located a maximum distance from the side wall 34. The platform 14 is made adaptable to be mounted in either counter top 11 or counter top 32 by employing the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 10 of the drawings.

In FIG. 3, which is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, there is shown a line 35 connecting the switch 21 with the unit 16, a line 36 connecting the switch 22 with the unit 17, a line 37 connecting the switch 23 with the unit 19 and a line 38 connecting the switch 24 with the unit 18. These lines 35, 36, 37 and 38 are intended asa schematic representation of the connections (which may be electric wires, gas conduits, etc.), it being understood thatany means operative to connect a surface unit to a control maybe used in practicing the invention.

The indicia 27, 28, 29 and 31 are lettered in a manner effective to identify each of the units 16, 17, 18 and 19 .operatively connected to their respective switches 21, 22, 23 and 24..

Referring to FIG. 4, the platform 14 is shown rotated 180 from the first position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. However, in rotating the platform 14, the indicia-carry ing member 26 is removed from the left side of the platform and replaced, without rotation, at the right side of the platform. The indicia 27, 28, 29 and 31 are now in a position where they remain readable from the front of the platform 14 and are also still effective to identify each of the units 16, 17, 1S and 19 by reference to any one of the adjacent switches 21, 22, 23 and 24, as in the first position shown in FIG. 3. The platform 14 may be mounted in the counter top 32 without changing the connecting lines 35, 36, 37 and 33, or without the substitution of additional parts.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the invention, the platform 14a being shown in FIG. 5 positioned for mounting adjacent a left-hand wall, and the same platform 14a being shown in FIG. 6 turned 180 and positioned for mounting adjacent a right-hand wall. The line 41 connects the switch 21 to the unit 16, the line 42 connects the switch 23 to unit 17, the line 43 connects the switch 24 with the unit 18 and the line 44 connects the switch 22 with the unit 19, for operation of the units. The indicia 27, 28, 29 and 31 are lettered in a manner effective to identify each of the controls for the units 16, 17, 18 and 19. Whether the removable member 26 is mounted as shown in FIG. 5, or as shown in FIG. 6, the units 16, 17, 18 and 19 are connected to the control switches 21, 22, 23 and 24-, respectively, such that the indicia read correctly.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment wherein the switch 21 is connected to the unit 17 by the line 46, the switch 22 is connected to the unit 16 by the line 47', the switch 23 is connected to the unit 18 by the line 48, and the switch 24 is connected to the unit 19 by the line 4-9. The platform 14b shown in FIG. 7 may be mounted with the controls and indicia adjacent a left-hand wall, and by rotating the platform 180 as described in connection With the prior embodiments, the platform 14b, as shown in FIG. 8, is disposed with its controls adjacent a right-hand Wall.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in 7 FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows the platform 14c disposed with its controls and indicia adjacent a left-hand wall and FIG. 10 shows the platform 14c turned 180 for location of its controls adjacent a right-hand wall. The lines 51, 52, 53 and 54 operatively connect the switches 21, 22, 23 and 24 to the units 16, 17, 18 and 19. Here, as in all embodiments shown, the platform 14 may be mounted with the switches 21, 22, 23 and 24 located at either side merely by rotating the platform 180 and laterally shifting the removable member 27, with respect to the platform, but without rotating it.

It will therefore, be recognized that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a range platform which may be mounted in a counter top adjacent a left facing wall or right facing Wall. The change from one mounting position to the other is accomplished by rotating the platform 180 and shifting a removable member with respect to the platform, which steps may be easily and simply performed.

Although the embodiments of the invention shown have been limited to arrangements having the location of the controls interchangeable between a left-hand and a right-hand position, it should be apparent that the teachings of the invention are also applicable to a situation wherein it is desirable that the controls be interchangeable between a front and a rear position. This application is advantageous where the controls are normally located at the front of the platform, but for households having small children it may be desirable to locate the controls at the rear of the platform, beyond the childs reach.

While the invention has been shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of additional changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A range platform unit comprising;

a platform member,

a group of surface type heating elements carried thereby,

a group of manually operable control members posi tioned adjacent a side of said group of heating ele- 1' ments and including a control member for each of said heating elements,

means operably associating each control member with the heating element controlled thereby,

and an indicia-carrying member positioned adjacent said group of control members for identifying the heating element controlled by each control member,

the arrangement of the heating elements and their respective control members being such that, when the range platform with its heating elements and control members are relocated by turning in a horizontal plane, the indicia-carrying member may be relocated adjacent the group of control members in their new location without the turning thereof and still correctly identify the heating element controlled by the respective control members.

2. A range platform unit comprising;

a platform member,

a group of surface type heating elements carried thereby and arranged in a double row,

a group of manually operable control members positioned adjacent a side of said group of heating elements and including a control member for each of said heating elements,

means operably associating each control member with the heating element controlled thereby,

and an indicia-carrying member positioned adjacent said group of control members for identifying the heating element controlled by each control member,

said heating elements and their respective control members being so arranged that, when the range platform with its heating elements and control members are relocated by turning 180 in a horizontal plane, the indicia-carrying member may be relocated adjacent the group of control members in their new location without the turning thereof and still correctly identify the heating element controlled by the respective control members.

3. A range platform unit comprising;

a platform member,

a group of surface type heating elements carried thereby and arranged in a double row,

a group of manually operable control members positioned in a row adjacent a side of said group of heating elements and including a control member for each of said heating elements,

means operably associating each control member with the heating element controlled thereby,

and an indicia-carrying member positioned adjacent said row of control members for identifying the heating element controlled by said control member,

said heating elements and their respective control members being so arranged that, when the range platform with its heating elements and control members are relocated by turning 180 in a horizontal plane, the indicia-carrying member may be relocated adjacent the row of control members in its new location without the turning thereof and still correctly identify the heating element controlled by the respective control members.

4. A range platform having a first side facing frontwardly and a second side facing rearwardly,

said platform comprising a first surface unit disposed near said first side of said platform,

a second surface unit disposed near said second side of said platform,

a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform,

said switches including a first switch controlling said first surface unit and a second switch controlling said second surface unit,

and a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches,

said member having a first indicium indicating a front wardly disposed surface unit and a second indicium indicating a'rearwardly disposed surface unit, said first indicium being disposed adjacent said first control switch and said second indicium being disposed adjacent said second control switch, said first and second control switches being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position whereby said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing frontwardly, and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof, said first indicium is disposed adjacent said second control switch, and said second indicium is disposed adjacent said first switch. 5. A range platform having a first side facing rightwardly and a second side facing leftwardly,

said platform comprising a first surface unit disposed near said first side of said platform, a second surface unit disposed near said second side of said platform, a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform, said switches including a first switch controlling said first surface unit and a second switch controlling said second surface unit, and a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches, said member having a first indicium indicating a rightwardly disposed surface unit and a second indicium indicating a leftwardly disposed surface unit, said first indicium being disposed adjacent said first control switch and said second indicium being disposed adjacent said second control switch, said first and second switches being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position whereby said first side is facing leftwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly, and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof, said first indicium is disposed adjacent said second control switch, and said second indicium is disposed adjacent said first control switch. 6. A range platform having a firstside facing frontwardly and a second side facing leftwardly,

said platform comprising a plurality of surface units, aplurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform, each of said switches being operative to control one of said surface units, j and a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches, said member having a plurality of indicia, each of said indicia being effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, in relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform, said switches and said surface units being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position whereby said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly, and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof, each of said indicia remains effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, with relation to the facing directioh of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform. 7. A range platform having a first side facing frontwardly and a second side facing leftwardiy,

said platform comprising a plurality of surface units including a left front unit, a right front unit, a left rear unit and a right rear unit, a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform, each of said switches being operative to control one of said surface units,

and a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches,

said member having a plurality of indicia,

each of said indicia being effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, in relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform,

said plurality of indicia comprising a front indicium effective to locate a left front unit,

a front intermediate indicium effective to locate a right front unit,

a rear intermediate indicium effective to locate a left rear unit, and

a rear indicium effective to locate a right rear unit,

'said switches and said surface units being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position wherein said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof, each of said indicia remains effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, with relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform andsaid second side of said platform.

8. A range platform having a first side facing frontwardly and a second side facing leftwardiy,

said platform comprising a plurality of surface units including a left front unit, a right front unit, a left rear unit and a right rear unit,

a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform,

each of said switches being operative to control one of said surface units, and

a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches,

said member having a plurality of indicia,

each of said indicia being effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, in relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform,

said plurality of indicia comprising a front indicium effective to locate a right front unit,

a front intermediate indicium effective to locate a left front unit,

a rear intermediate indicium effective to locate a right rear unit, and

a rear indicium effective to locate a left rear unit,

said switches and said surface units being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position wherein said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly, and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches withoutthe rotation thereof,

each of said indicia remains effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, with relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform.

9. A range platform having a first side facing frontwardly and a second side facing leftwardly,

said platform comprising a plurality of surface units including a left front unit, a right front unit, a left rear unit and a right rear unit,

a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, dis- I posed near a side of said platform,

each of said switches being operative to control one of said surface units, and

a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches,

said member having a plurality of indicia,

each of said indicia being effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, in relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform,

said plurality of indicia comprising a front indicium effective to locate a right front unit,

a front intermediate indicium effective to locate a right rear unit,

a rear intermediate indicium effective to locate a left front unit, and

a rear indicium effective to locate a left rear unit,

said switches and said surface units being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position wherein said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly,

and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof,

each of said indicia remains effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, with relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform.

10. A range platform having a first side facing frontwardly and a second side facing leftwardly,

said platform comprising a plurality of surface units including a left front unit, a right front unit, a left rear unit and a right rear unit,

a plurality of control switches arranged in a row, disposed near a side of said platform,

each of said switches being operative to control one of said surface units, and

a removable member disposed adjacent said row of switches,

said member having a plurality of indicia,

each of said indicia being effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, in relation to the-facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform,

said plurality 'of indicia comprising a front indicium efiective to locate a left front unit,

a front intermediate indicium effective to locate a left rear unit,

a rear intermediate indicium effective to locate a right front unit, and

a rear indicium effective to locate a right rear unit,

said switches and said surface units being disposed such that when said platform is rotated to a position wherein said first side is facing rearwardly and said second side is facing rightwardly,

and said removable member is placed adjacent said row of switches without the rotation thereof,

each of said indicia remains effective to locate said one surface unit controlled by an adjacent switch, with relation to the facing direction of said first side of said platform and said second side of said platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,272 9/52 Platz 200-172 2,980,480 4/61 Jacobs et al. 312-111 3,044,459 7/62 Brown 1262l4 X RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RANGE PLATFORM UNIT COMPRISING; A PLATFORM MEMBER, A GROUP OF SURFACE TYPE HEATING ELEMENTS CARRIED THEREBY, A GROUP OF MANUALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MEMBERS POSITIONED ADJACENT A SIDE OF SAID GROUP OF HEATING ELEMENTS AND INCLUDING A CONTROL MEMBER FOR EACH OF SAID HEATING ELEMENTS, MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATING EACH CONTROL MEMBER WITH THE HEATING ELEMENT CONTROLLED THEREBY, AND AN INDICIA-CARRYING MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID GROUP OF CONTROL MEMBERS FOR IDENTIFYING THE HEATING ELEMENT CONTROLLED BY EACH CONTROL MEMBER, THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE HEATING ELEMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE CONTROL MEMBERS BEING SUCH THAT, WHEN THE RANGE PLATFORM WITH ITS HEATING ELEMENTS AND CONTROL MEMBERS ARE RELOCATED BY TURNING 180* IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, THE INDICIA-CARRYING MEMBER MAY BE 